Fire-escape



(No Model.)

T. H. FOSTER.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 285,806. Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

WITNESASIEQD N. PETERS. PMw-UMW Wnh nmn. ac

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY FOSTER, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,806, dated October 2, 188 3.

' I Application'filed March 14,1883. (No model.) l

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY H. FOsTER, of Danbury, in the county of Fail-field, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is an accurate description of the same.

The danger of being caught in a burning building is so remote that but few people provide themselves with means of escape by way of the window. For the same reason proprietors of buildings where large numbers of persons assemble avoid incurring the heavy expenses necessary to provide means of escape from each room or window; Experience has shown that fire-escapes, stairways, or ladders fixed to the outer walls of a building have frequently failed in time of need, because their location was unknown, or in the bewilderment and excitement, possibly increased by smoke and heat, they could not be reached;

I am aware that fire-escapes employing a rope for that purpose have been provided with handhold pieces fastened transversely to the rope at short distances for hand-holds. Therefore I do not propose to claim, broadly, a rope with hand-holds.

My invention consists in spherical handholds made in two parts fastened together and clamped to the rope by means of a screw or rivet.

Cylindrical hand holds are liable to these serious objections, which do not apply to my improvement: They project laterally from the side of the rope, and afford facility for the hand to grasp them, so that the weight will be applied at one side of the rope: Under such circumstances the cylindrical handhold will be liable to slip off. It is true this effect would be avoided if the grasp were made so that two of the fingers would pass onto one side of the rope and two on the other side; but few persons under the circumstances in which this escape would be used would be sufficiently cool and thoughtful to guard against a slip of the hand, which might cost a life. My hand-holds, being spherical and attached to the rope axially, afford a sure hold for the hand under all circumstances, and .no such accident as that alluded to is possible. Again, the cylindrical hand-holds are not secured to the rope without more or less injury to it by untwisting its strands, &c. are made in hemispheres, with a central opening for the rope. One or more screws pass through or by the side of the rope, so as to grip it between said hemispheres and secure a firm and solid attachment without mutilation of the strands.

That others may fully understand my improvement, I will particularly describe it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section of a building, showing my device in operative position. Fig. 2 represents the same nearly full size. Fig. 3 represents the storage-box in position. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the hand-hold detached.

A is the box or case, adapted to be firmly attached to the baseboard G. It is provided also with a hinged lid or cover, H. ."Wit-hin said box there is a hook, E, or other means of securing the end of the rope F, which, when not in use, is coiled up within the box, ready to be withdrawn at any moment. The rope My hand holds F is sufficiently long to reach the ground from I the window where it is placed. It is provided at intervals of a few inches with the spherical hand-holds C, which I prefer to make of thin cast-iron, but may be made of other suitable material. If of iron, they are each made in two hemispherical parts united by the screw or screws (7. If made of wood or other material, they may be made without divisions.-

. \V hen required for use, the box is to be opened and the rope thrown out of the window. It then immediately forms an outside communication with the ground, and a per son may descend by it; or, if desired, another person may ascend, either as a means of raising other lifesaving apparatus, drawing water-hose up, 8m.

Havingdescribed my invention,what I claim as new is I a The spherical hand-holds 71, made in two hemispherical shells united and clamped to the rope by screws, as set forth.

TIMOTHY HpFOSTER.

IVitn'ess'esa J. W. SAGENDORF, J. R. FARN'UM. 

